Bicycles are just plain awesome! They’re a great mode of transportation, and a lot of people agree on that. You can ride for fun, as a sport, or just to go from one place to another. It feels like the possibilities are endless. Not to mention the impact it has on the environment, helping you minimize your carbon footprint. But although there are many benefits to cycling, it can be very dangerous if you don’t know how to stay safe properly, and take care of yourself. No matter if you’re a beginner or a professional, these are some cycling safety tips that you should know of.
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Safety Equipment
One of the first things you ought to do when getting ready for a cycling session is to suit up! Being safe on a bike starts before even getting on one. You might feel like you’re too old for a helmet, and that you might look silly, but protecting your head should always be your top priority. When talking about injuries, head injuries, as well as spinal injuries, are the worst kind that can leave lasting consequences. Besides that, you should consider getting eye protection, as well as protection for your knees and your arms. Your footwear should also be carefully selected and fitting for your cycling adventures. Wearing proper cycling clothing can also enhance your performance. It can help you feel at ease and let loose, so you can fully enjoy the ride while knowing you’ve taken the necessary precautions to do so.
Follow The Rules
When you’re a pedestrian who’s taking part in traffic, these rules of traffic are just simply ingrained into you. But when you sit on a bicycle, it all shifts a little bit. Knowing the rules of traffic, for both cars and pedestrians, are of utmost importance. You need to know the rules of turn-taking for cars, so you could avoid any kind of collision while cycling, be it a pedestrian or a car. Don’t speed when the roads are bustling with traffic, and be mindful of your surroundings. Making sure you can clearly see the road in front of you, while also ensuring that there are no cars behind that might hurt you, is one of the crucial points. Keeping yourself safe also keeps others safe, so be sure to keep that in mind.
Warm-Up
Cycling is a physical activity, as we all know. Even though you might not find it as exhausting as other types of exercise, be it cardio or lifting, it still puts a strain on your muscles. So, as you would do before any type of exercise, you ought to do some warming up exercises to wake your muscles up. A lot of people when they just start their cycling journey complain about muscle pain and soreness. While that can often happen, as your muscle tissue starts building up, that pain can be minimized by warming up your body before going on your bike. This will make cycling way more pleasant for you, but it will also help you stay safe. If your body isn’t warmed up, you can easily hurt yourself while you’re cycling. And you don’t need to risk pulling a muscle.
Having The Proper Ride
When you’re just starting as a cyclist, you’ll see that there are so many options for bikes. You’re likely not going to know which one to choose, since there are so many sizes, types, and colors. Although that’s all very important, there are other parameters you also need to consider when getting a bike. Being able to maintain good posture while riding is crucial, as you don’t want your bike to give you back problems. So when you’re shopping for a bike, make sure you pay attention to the height of the handlebars, and the angle and positioning of your seat, so it could prevent hurting your back, and help you stay safe on the road. And when you finally buy your bicycle, make sure it stays in shape. Check your air, brakes, and chain (the ABCs of biking) before every ride! And if all of that is okay, you’re finally set to go!
Making sure you’re staying safe while cycling should be your top priority. Cycling is exhilarating, it’s fun and it’s so easy to get lost at the moment. But no matter what, you need to be conscious of your surroundings and the fact that you’re on a bike after all. Making you stay mindful of all that, and having these safety tips in mind, will surely make your rides more enjoyable for everyone. Stay safe!
